Police release images of downtown stabbing suspect

Kevin Rector, The Baltimore Sun

The alleged attacker in the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy shortly after the Ravens parade on Tuesday was caught committing the violent act on CityWide surveillance cameras — and Baltimore Police are asking for the public's help identifying him.

Police have said they believe the victim, Deontae Smith, was downtown for the parade celebrating the Baltimore Ravens' victory in the Super Bowl, and his family has said that was the case. The suspect identified in the surveillance footage was wearing a white hat and purple jacket, police said.

The stabbing occurred outside a McDonald's restaurant at Howard and Fayette streets downtown during a fight involving a large group of teenagers.

Anthony Guglielmi, the police department's chief spokesman, said that while the incident was captured by city surveillance cameras, officers monitoring the live camera feeds did not see the incident as it unfolded. The city has more than 600 cameras, many of which can be viewed through feeds at a downtown nerve center.

"We were monitoring CitiWatch cameras at the time, but that particular camera at that particular moment wasn't being monitored," he said.

Commissioner Anthony W. Batts referred to the stabbing as a "sad stain on an otherwise excellent performance" by city officials and police in orchestrating the parade and keeping it safe.

Police said Smith, of the city's Ellwood Park/Monument neighborhood, went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to Johns Hopkins Children's Center, where he was pronounced dead. Two other teens were also injured.

Initial statements from police that the incident was not related to the parade have drawn criticism from Smith's family that the city was trying to downplay the violence. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has said that is not the case and called the killing a "tragedy."

Anyone with information regarding the stabbing, or information about the individual identified in the surveillance images, is asked to contact detectives at 410-396-2100. Those who call may remain anonymous.